W. Chudley
W. Chudley | |
|---|---|
 Chudley in 1891 | |
| Born | William Chudley 1838 Exeter, England |
| Died | 25 May 1919 (aged 81) Exeter, England |
| Resting place | Exeter Higher Cemetery 50°43′44″N 3°30′30″W / 50.72894°N 3.50838°W |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | c. 1859–1919 |
| Organizations |
|
| Known for | Advocacy of temperance and vegetarianism |
| Spouse |
Jane Ramster
(m. 1868; died 1912) |
| Children | 1 |
William Chudley (1838 – 25 May 1919) was an English businessperson, deacon, and social reformer. He operated a printing and stationary business in Exeter for over 60 years and served as a Baptist deacon for around 40 years at the South Street Baptist Church. Chudley was an advocate of temperance and vegetarianism. He was a founding member of the Exeter Total Abstinence Society and Devon County Vegetarian Society.
Biography
Early life
William Chudley was born in the second quarter of 1838 in Exeter to John Chudley and Mary Chudley (née Wonnacott).[1][2][3] He was baptised on 8 July 1838 at the Church of St Mary Major, Exeter.[2]
Career
For over 60 years, Chudley operated the printing and stationary company W. Chudley & Son, in Exeter.[4][5] He was also the director of the Eastgate Coffee Tavern.[6]
A devout Baptist, Chudley served as a deacon for around 40 years at the South Street Baptist Church. Additionally, he was a member of the Board of Guardians for St. Mary Major's Ward and participated in the governing body of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He ran unsuccessfully for Exeter City Council on three occasions.[6]
Activism
Chudley was a founding member of the Exeter Total Abstinence Society and served as honorary secretary.[6][7]
In 1869, Chudley published The Weekly Marvel, a journal devoted to temperance propaganda, which lasted for about a year.[6]
In 1882, after attending two lectures on vegetarianism by Dr. T. L. Nichols, Chudley formed the Devon County Vegetarian Society along with J. I. Pengelly.[8] Chudley served on the committee, while Pengelly served as honorary secretary and treasurer.[8][9]
Personal life and death
Chudley married Jane Ramster on 8 April 1868 at the Independent Chapel, Castle Street, Exeter.[10] They had one son, A. J. Chudley.[6] His wife died in 1912.[11]
Chudley died on 25 May 1919 in Exeter, aged 81, following a ten-day illness caused by bronchial pneumonia.[4][6] He was buried at the Exeter Higher Cemetery on 30 May.[4] His son took over the business following his father's death.[6]
See also
- History of vegetarianism
- Vegetarianism in the Victorian era
- Temperance movement in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ "Births Jun 1838: Chudley, William". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ a b "William Chudley". England, Devon, Parish Registers (Devon Record Office), 1529-1974. Retrieved 28 February 2026 – via FamilySearch.
- ^ "John Chudley". England, Devon and Cornwall, Marriages, 1660-1912. Retrieved 28 February 2026 – via FamilySearch.
- ^ a b c "Funeral of Mr Wm. Chudley at Exeter Yesterday". The Western Times. 30 May 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Maxted, Ian (10 February 2012). "The Exeter book trades 1855-1997 : a dictionary". Exeter Working Papers in Book History. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Obituary". Devon and Exeter Gazette. 27 May 1919. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Exeter Total Abstinence Society". The Western Times. 28 March 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 21 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Aoyagi, Akiko; Shurtleff, William (7 March 2022). "2383. Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England)". History of Vegetarianism and Veganism Worldwide (1430 BCE to 1969): Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook (PDF). Lafayette, CA: Soyinfo Center. p. 649. ISBN 978-1-948436-73-1. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ Gregory, James Richard Thomas Elliott (May 2002). The Vegetarian Movement in Britain c.1840–1901: A Study of Its Development, Personnel and Wider Connections (PDF) (PhD thesis). Vol. 2. University of Southampton. p. 313. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "Marriages". The Western Times. 9 April 1868. p. 4. Retrieved 21 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Deaths Mar 1912: Chudley, Jane". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 21 January 2025.